A FORMER rugby player is gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime to help a team-mate left paralysed after a scrum collapsed.

Bala player Bryan Davies, better known as Yogi, was badly hurt at the end of a playing career spanning more than 20 years.

An appeal launched to raise money for Mr Davies, 49, inspired former team-mate Dilwyn Morgan to plan a cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

News of the fundraiser comes as Mr Davies’ family spoke of their anguish.

In the dressing room before the match on Saturday, April 21, Ifor Williams Trailers worker Mr Davies told team-mates he was playing his last game for Bala Rugby Club.

And to mark the occasion he was handed the captaincy.

But within minutes of the Asda League Four North clash against Nant Conwy getting under way, a scrum collapsed and Mr Davies was left with serious back injuries.

The fixture was due to be played last October but was postponed after Nant Conwy player Myfyr Lloyd Thomas was killed in a road crash the night before the game.

Mr Davies’ wife Sue, 40, makes the 70-mile round trip to see him at Wrexham Maelor Hospital every day.

She told how she broke the bad news to 12-year-old son Ilan and daughter Teleri, 10.

“I had to tell them their daddy would be in a wheelchair from now on. I said he wasn’t going to be able to give them cuddles any more but that wouldn’t stop them from cuddling him.

She added: “I’m ashamed to say it, but one day I just broke down in front of the children. Ilan just looked at me and said ‘Mum, it could be worse, dad could be dead’. I realised then I still have a husband and the kids still have their father. This wasn’t the end, but the beginning of a new stage in our lives.”

An appeal fund to help Mr Davies and his family was set up by Bala RFC officials.

And Dilwyn, who stopped playing because of a hip injury, is to defy possible injury to cycle the length of the country.

Dilwyn, 49, of Bala, said: “The word I would use for Yogi is genuine. He gave 100% in everything he did.

“That really came through in the work he did with youngsters. He devoted hours and hours to helping the club, and it was his life. That makes what happened to him even more sad.

“It has shocked us all. But a decision has been taken to move the club forward. It is what he would want.”

Dilwyn, who works for the North Wales Events Commission in Caernarfon, will start the ride on August 27.

He is appealing for sponsors as well as someone to help design a blog and the use, for 10 days, of a motorhome.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact him on 01286 685242 or on geryllyn@hotmail.co.uk.

To read Bryan’s story visit the website set up by his friends at Bala Rugby Club at www.bryandavies.org.uk